I spent the evening at a Catechist recognition dinner at my parish, St. Mary’s. I have taught Sunday school for the past two years and tonight was asked to speak as a testimony to giving back. What an easy talk for me!

On my way home, I had a voicemail from my mom. My cell phone is testy at best and apparently does not like me to talk in the car (that’s probably a good thing), as I am often losing my signal and the connection to my caller. But I called her back anyway and she asked, as she always does, “How did it go?”

“How did it go?” This is always a difficult question for me to answer. I am not one to self-proclaim, “I was great!” Nor am I one to down play the importance of my story and my message. Thankfully it is no longer hard for me to gauge how a talk is received. Because the audience rarely differs.

When I was in Phoenix last Fall - giving five talks in four days! - my mom witnessed what I had seen: an audience that listens intensely, does not talk, and barely moves during my presentation. With little more than a slightly agreeing nod or the wiping of a tear, there is little expression to decipher what each listener is hearing. But they are listening, and they are hearing what I say. And usually, they are processing - or trying to process - the depth and magnitude of what I share. It is a lot to digest, especially tonight, when most people had not read my book nor heard any version of my story.

How did it go? It was powerful. Powerful for me to share my faith and my hope. And powerful for them to hear how their goodness of giving back can truly impact one’s life. To my mother I answered, “You know, it was the same.” But in this case, “the same” is good. It’s great. It’s powerful - and feel lucky and inspired going to bed, knowing that I might have touched a few more lives.